Scalpel



March 1-7, 1959 J. J. MATWIJCOW SCALPEL Filed June 11, 1957 INVENTQRATTORNEYS United States Patent SCALPEL John J. Matwijcow, South Amboy,N. J. Application June 1 1, 1957, Serial No. 665,017

Claims. (Cl. 30-339).

The present invention relates. to scalpel handles, and more particularlyto handles for holding replaceable scalpel blades. N

The primary object of the invention is to provide a scalpel blade handlehaving means thereon for positively locking the scalpel blade inposition for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scalpel handle to whichstandard scalpel blades can be detachably secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined scalpelhandle and detachable scalpel blade therefor having cooperating meansfor positively restricting the scalpel blade against displacement fromthe handle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a scalpel handlewhich is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use, and one in which ascalpel blade can be fastened without the use of special tools.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention with the scalpel bladepositioned therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, similar to Figure 1, with thescalpel blade removed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation taken from ,the side oppositeto Figure 1, with the scalpel blade in position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention with thescalpel blade removed.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the scalpel blades used with theinvention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross section taken alongthe line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken alongthe line 7-7 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of theinvention illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken alongthe line 99 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, thereference numeral 20 indicates generally a scalpel handle constructed inaccordance with the invention.

The scalpel handle 20 includes an elongated generally flat shank 21having an offset blade supporting extension 22 laterally offset from thelongitudinal center line of the shank and integrally extending from oneend thereof. A horizontal fiange 23 is integrally formed along the upperedge of the blade support 22 adjacent the shank 21.

The blade support 22 has a longitudinally extending elongated boss 24formed thereon. The boss 24 and the blade support 22 have an elongatedslot 25 formed therebetween along the supper and lower edges thereof andat the end thereof opposite the shank 21. The slot 25 adja- 2,877,553PatentedMar, 1.7, 1

'ice

2. cent the end thereof opposite" the" shank 21 is relatively deep andhas" a shallower" portion extending. toward the shank 21.

The shank 21 at the-juncturethereof with th'e blade support 22 isprovided with an'upwardly and outwardlyslope ing shoulder 26, forreasons to be 'assig'ned'. Th'e' shank 21 at the end thereof" carryingthe blade support 22is'* of the blade 32 and a relatively narrow portion37 adjacent the opposite end of the groove 35 with the central portion38 of the groove 35 having a width intermediate the width of theopposite ends 36, 37 thereof. The blade 32 has the upper edge thereofprovided with a T-shaped flange 39 to provide strength for the blade 32and to engage in the groove 31, as is best seen in Figure 6.

In installing the blade 32 onto the handle 20, the blade 32 is broughtinto contact with the blade support 22 and the portion 36 of the slot 35is engaged over the boss 24 with the edges of the blade 32 surroundingthe slot 35 engaging in the groove 25. The contact of the blade 32 withthe blade support 22 serves to guide the blade 32 into the groove 25. g

The blade 32 is then pushed rearwardly on the handle 20 until the rearedge 34 thereof contacts the shoulder 26 whereupon the cam lock 28 ispivoted on the pin 29 so as to engage over the rear edge of the blade32, locking the flange 39 in contact with the flange 23 as well as inthe groove 31, and simultaneously locking the rear edge 34 of the blade32 against the shoulder 26.

Referring now to the modifications illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, ahandle 20a having a blade support extension 23a is constructedsubstantially identical to the handle 29 with the exception that acylindrical boss 40 is carried on the blade support 23a between the boss24a and the shank 21a. The blade 32a is provided with a bore 41 toengage over and tightly contact the cylindrical boss 40 to assist inholding the blade 32a on the handle 20a.

In the removal of the blades 32 and 32a from the respective handles 20and 2011, the cam lock 28 is swung upwardly out of contact with theblade 32 and a finger of the user extending through the recess 30engages the edge of the blade 32 adjacent the shank 21 swinging itoutwardly away from the shoulder 26 to remove the rear edge of the slot35 from contact with the boss 24. After the blade 32 is unseated it isslid forwardly off of the boss 24 and out of contact with the handle 20.

It should be noted that the bosses 24 and 24a slope inwardly onapproaching the shank 21 to prevent the blade 32 from binding whilemoving through the slot 25.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A scalpel comprising a shank, a blade support extending integrallyforwardly from one end of said shank in laterally offset relation to thelongitudinal center line of said shank, a forwardly and upwardly slopingshoulder formed integrally on said shank at the juncture of said shankwith said blade support, an elongated boss integrally formed on "saidblade support in aligned relation with said shank and provided withgenerally parallel upper and lower edges, said elongated boss taperingwith decreasing thickness from the forward end portion thereof towardthevclpposite 'endthereof, said boss having a slot formed in each oftheparallel upper and lower edges thereof adjacent said blade support,and a flexible blade having an elongated slot formed therein removablyengaging over said .boss in the slots therein, said blade having a; rearedge engaging againstsaid shoulder, said tapered boss permitting therear end' portion of said blade when flexed to move freely forwardlydetaching the edges of said blade slot from the, slotsin said boss todetach said blade from said boss.

, 2. A-device as claimed in claim 1 wherein movable locking meansis.provided on said shank for engaging over the rear end portion of saidblade to releasably lock said blade in engagement with saidbladesupport.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade support is providedwith a longitudinally extending perpendicular flange formed on the rearend portion of one edge thereof adjacent said shank for engagement withthe rear end portion of one edge of said blade.

41 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said blade supportextends beyond said boss vertically and longitutudinally to provide aguide surface for guiding said blade into the slots in said boss. f

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said blade support isprovided with a cylindrical boss on the side thereof carrying saidelongated boss between said elongated boss and said shank, and saidblade is provided with a cylindrical bore spaced from said slot thereinfor engagement with said cylindrical boss to releasably lock said bladeon said elongated boss.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS834,353 Arnold Oct. 30, 1906 1,090,398 Humeston Mar. 17, 1914 1,778,945Hultgren Oct. 21, 1930 2,257,141 Waugh Sept. 30, 1941 2,708,313 SteeleMay 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,816 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1927

